Reinecke in $70k Rudd consulting win

Summary:The former chief executive of Australia's peak e-health group picked up $70,000 for a week's worth of services in late February to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's department, tender documents have revealed.

The former chief executive of Australia's peak e-health group picked up $70,000 for a week's worth of services in late February to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's department, tender documents have revealed.

Ian Reinecke resigned from his post leading the National E-Health Transition Authority in April 2008, after four years of leading the non-profit authority, which guides electronic health initiatives in Australia. He is seen as one of Australia's foremost experts on health technology solutions, particularly electronic medical records.

It is not known whether Reinecke has taken another position since he left NEHTA, although he was also revealed this week to be taking part in the Federal Government's Government 2.0 Taskforce, which aims to investigate the ability of Web 2.0 technologies to make government more transparent and increase community engagement.

The contract with Rudd's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet listed the executive as providing advice on information policy and governance to the privacy and freedom of information policy branch of PM&C, from 23 February through 2 March this year.

The contract value, inked with the Sydney-based Strategies and Solutions Group for Reinecke's services, was valued at $70,000. No further details were disclosed.

A spokesperson for PM&C did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the nature of services provided, while ZDNet.com.au was unable to contact Reinecke.